Pipe grate and actuating tool



Nov. 7, 1933. EACH 1,934,340

PIPE GRATE AND ACTUATING TOOL Filed June 6, 1932 @ufluiand v ATTOR Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC 3 Claims.

This invention relates to pipes of the type commonly used by tobacco smokers, and especially to a grate insertable in the bowl of a pipe to prevent the tobacco from clogging the stem and at the same time to afford a cool and pleasant smoke. The invention also relates to a tool for inserting and removing the grate with relation to the bowl of the pipe.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of pipe grates of the character described and a tool for inserting and removing the grate; to provide a grate which is quickly insertable and removable when the pipe is to be cleaned; to provide a grate which will prevent tobacco from entering the stem of the pipe and which will not clog even though the tobacco is tightly compressed or packed on top of the grate; to provide a tool for inserting and removing the grate; and further, to provide a tool whereby carbon deposits on the inner face of the bowl may be removed so as to permit insertion and removal of the grate.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing,'in which-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tobacco pipe partially in section, said section showing the grate inserted in the bowl of the pipe. 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the grate.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the grate taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partially in section of the tool for inserting and removing the grate, said view showing the reamingand guiding plates removed. r

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the reamer blades.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the guide blades.

Fig. 7 shows a screw whereby the reaming and guiding blades are secured.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the tool shown in Fig. 4, showing the reaming and guiding-blades together with the securing screw removed- 45 Fig. 9 is a side elevation in section similar to Fig. 4, showing the reaming and guiding blades together with the securing screw in position.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the reaming and guiding blades and the securing screw in position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A indicates the head of a tobacco pipe, B the bowl or chamber formed therein, C the stem of the pipe, and D the smoke passage formed in the stem and in com munication with the lower end of the bowl; The

pipe illustrated is of standard construction and is representative of most pipes commonly employed.

In pipes of this character, the tobacco is packed in the bowl and fills it from top to bottom, with theresult that when the pipe is being smoked there is a tendency for the tobacco to clog the entrance to the passage of the stem and there is also a tendency for the finer particles of tobacco to enter and accumulate in the stem passage to finally cause clogging of the same. To prevent such clogging of the stem, and for other reasons which will later appear, a grate E is employed. The grate comprises a thin circular metal disc having a diameter to snugly fit the lower part of 7 the bowl. The grate may be punched or otherwise formed and is provided with a central convex portion 2, an annular rib 3, and a peripheral flange 4, in which is formed a plurality of openings or slots 5. The rib 3 may be half round in cross section, as shown, or of any other shape desired. The shape of the rib is not of great importance but its position adjacent to the peripheral edge of the grate, together with the position of the slots 5, is important for the following reasons:

With the grate inserted in the lower bowl portion of the pipe, as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to fill the upper portion of the bowl with tobacco and to light the same. -The smoke produced will, during smoking, be drawn down through the body of the tobacco and then pass through the slots 5 into the lower portion of the bowl, indicated at 7, and will finally be drawn through the passage D of the stem into the mouth of the smoker. Many smokers have a habit of rather tightly compressing or packing the tobacco in the bowl and, where a grate isnot employed, the pipe draws heavy due to the tendency of the tobacco to clog the inner opening of the stem. In fact, it is often necessary to entirely remove the tobacco when this happens as it is almost im possible to obtain any suction or at least suffi cient suction for a comfortable smoke. The provision of the grate E entirely eliminates this trouble regardless of whether the tobacco is tightly packed or not. For instance, if the bowl is filled with tobacco, it will rest on top of the grate E and, if it is compressed, it is usually compressed by inserting the finger on top of the tobacco. The finger gradually exerts its greatest pressure on the central portion of the tobacco and the greatest force of compression is exerted against the grate inthe line indicated by the arrow-a. The force exerted on the tobacco adjacent the periph- 110 eral edge of the grate will, however, be comparatively small and the tobacco will accordingly be fairly loosely packed in that area which overlies the annular rib 3 and the slots 5, and no matter how tightly the tobacco is packed or compressed the pipe will always draw freely due to the fact that the compression is only slight at the points overlying the slots and, furthermore, due to the fact that several slots are provided.

The first function of the grate is, accordingly, that of supporting the tobacco at a point elevated with relation to the inner end of the stem D, thus preventing the tobacco from clogging the smoke passage in the stem. The second function is that of permitting the tobacco to be tightly compressed or packed without creating an excessive suction on the part of the smoker. The third function is that of forming a chamber in the lower end of the bowl wherein partial condensation of the smoke may-take place; that is, in actual practice it been found that where a grate of this character is employed a considerable amount of tarry substance and nicotine accumulates in the bowl. This is desirable as it would otherwise condense and accumulate in the stem proper and thus cause quick clogging of the same, but by condensing in the bowl where ample space is provided for its accumulation and at a point from where it may be readily removed, clogging by accumulation of substance or nicotine is substantially prevented. The fourth function is that of partially cooling the smoke; that is, the grate is made of metal, which is a good conductor of heat, and as the hot smoke strikes the grate it heats the same thus taking off more or less heat. The grate is in tight contact with the sides of the bowl and as the smoke heats the grate it is rapidly conducted to the bowl and is thus dissipated, hence the grate assists in cooling the smoke and it is furthermore cooled in the lower chamber '7 and in passing through the stem. The result is a cool and pleasant smoke.

Where a grate is employed, as here illustrated, difficulty is encountered in removing the grate when it is desired to clean the pipe, due to the fact that carbon tendsto accumulate and build up on the inner surface of the pipe bowl as indicated at 8. In view thereof, a special tool has been provided for inserting and removing the grate and for reaming or cutting away the carbon accumulations. The tool is best illustrated in Figs. 4 to 10. It consists of a shank 9, termi nating in a handle 10 of suitable construction at one end, and a head member 11 at the opposite end. The head is provided with upper and lower annular shoulders 12 and 14 and with an annular intermediate groove 15. The head is slotted, as indicated at 16, and centrally recessed, as shown at 17 for the reception of a securing screw 18. Blades, such as shown at 5a and 6a, are insertable in the slots 16 and they are secured by means of the screw 18. In the present instance, six slots are employed but the number provided may be greater or less. The blades shown at 5a'and 6a are alternately inserted in the slots. The blade 5a is a reaming blade and the blade 6a a guide blade. The reaming blade, shown in Fig. 5 pre- 'sents an outer cutting or reaming surface 19, which terminates in a point or key 20. It is otherwise provided with an inner shoulder or lug 21,

the lower surface of which is inclined, as shown at 22, to form an interlock with the head of the screw 18. A similar lug 21a is formed on the guide blade, s'hown'in Fig. 6, the outer surface 19a of this blade being smooth as it merely functions as a guide. Where six slots, such as shown at 16. are employed, there will be three reaming blades and three guide blades alternately arranged They are inserted in the slot 16 with their cutting and'guiding faces projecting outwardly and with the retaining lugs 21 and 21a. engaging the shank of the screw 18. The inner face of the screw 18 presents an inclined annular surface 23 and when this engages the slanting shoulders 22 of the respective blades an interlock is formed which centers and properly positions and secures the blades. The blades, when assembled and secured, being clearly shown in Fig. 9 and the blades, when removed, being shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The use of the tool will be as follows: If a grate E has been inserted in the pipe, as shown in Fig. 1, and the pipe has been smoked for some time, it will be found'that there is a considerable accumulation of carbon on the inner face of the bowl, as indicated at 8, hence making it difiicult and almost impossible to remove the grate when the pipe is to be cleaned. In such instances the tool, shown in Figs. 4 to 10, will be employed. The head end containing the reaming and guiding blades is inserted in the upper end of the bowl and rotated, and as it rotates the carbon is out or reamed out. The reamer or cutting tool is worked inwardly until engagement is made with the grate. The points or key extensions 20 of the reaming blades will then enter the slots 5 and the grate will be rotated, and if the pipe is held upside down, and a slight outward pull is exerted, the grate will come out with the tool. After the grate has been removed the accumulated tarry substance may be scraped out, the stem cleaned, and so on, and the grate is re-inserted by placing it on the end of the tool in engagement with the key extensions 20 extending through the slots 5. With the grate thus applied to the'tool, the pipe is held upside down and the tool inserted and when the bottom of the bowl is reached a little pressure is applied to the'tool and it is rotated one or more times. This causes the peripheral edge 4 of the grate to slightly out into the surface of the bowl and it is thus secured and retained when the tool is removed.

In actual practice it will be understood that the cutting edges of'the reaming tools present a'. diameter a few thousands less than. the outside diameter of the grate. This is essential as it is not desirable to ream away any of the'wood of the pipe, nor to produce an insidediameter larger than the grate. Such increase in diameter would make it impossibleto reinsert and secure the grate. It is for this reason that the cutting edges presentedare slightly less in diameter than the outside diameter of the grate. It will also be understood that the length of the blades, that is, both the reaming and guiding blades, is such as to maintain the tool vertically in thebowl while the reaming operation is taking place. Any topping or tilting during this operation would not be desirable'as it would under cut or ream out the inner surface of the bowl. The annular recess 15 formed between the upper and lower shoulders 12 and 14 is also important as it forms a cham-' her for the accumulation of the carbon while the reaming operation is taking place.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the tool functions as a means for both inserting, se-

curing and removing'the grate. It is a small compact tool that can be readily carried in the pocket of a smoker and as such may also be used for tamping or packing the tobacco when smoking. This is a desirablefeature as many pipe smokers foo its

loo

are continuously using their index finger for this purpose, causing discoloration and often causing blistering of the point of the finger. By using the tool as a tamper or packer this can be entirely avoided. It is believed that the importance of arranging the holes or slots 5 in the peripheral edge of the grate has been fully explained, but it might, nevertheless, be mentioned that if the holes were near the center of the grate, as is common in different types of pipe grates, the chances of clogging them are obvious. But by arranging them in the peripheral edge of the grate, or adjacent said edge, and furthermore, by providing the rib 3, the slots or openings are more or less guarded and as tight packing of the tobacco at this point is almost impossible a free drawing non-clog pipe is insured.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Many pipe smokers are known as wet smokers. This is due to the fact that there is an overabundance of saliva, a portion of which drains down through the stem of the pipe and collects in the bottom of the bowl. If the bowl of the pipe is completely filled with tobacco from bottom to top, the lower portion becomes wet and saturated with saliva. The saturated tobacco burns with difliculty, if at all, and thereby causes a sour, strong unpleasant smoke. But by employing the grid here illustrated the tobacco is maintained at an elevation with relation to the bottom of the bowl and any collected saliva will not wet or saturate the same. The tobacco placed in the bowl is thus completely smoked until only ashes remain on the grid and a sweet pleasant smoke is maintained until all the tobacco is consumed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A pipe grate comprising a circular disc adapted to fit the lower end of the bowl of a pipe, and an annular rib formed in the disc, said disc having a plurality of slots formed in its peripheral edge.

2. A pipe grate comprising a circular disc adapted to fit the lower end of the bowl of a pipe, an annular rib formed in the disc adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc, said rib being substantially semi-circular shaped in cross section, and the faceof the disc interior of the rib presenting a substantially fiat surface and said disc having a plurality of slots formed in its peripheral edge which are radially disposed, the inner ends of the slots terminating in the annular rib.

3. A pipe grate comprising a circular disc adapted to fit the lower end of the bowl of a pipe, an annular rib formed in the disc adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc, said rib being substantially semi-circular shaped in cross section, the face of the disc interior of the rib presenting a convex surface and the face of the disc exterior of the rib presenting a fiat surface, and said disc having a plurality of slots formed in its peripheral edge which are radially disposed and the inner ends of the slots extending into the annular rib.

ANTON M. BACH. 

